Tank-valve-control mechanism



5 Sheefs-Sheet l L. H. DUERR TANK VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM y Filed Sept. 18, 1928 Juef-l?, i930.

I uw K L( H. DUERR TANK VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM June 17, 1930.`

Filed Sept. 123,` 192e 5 sheets-sheet 2 15 24 Mwm ATTORNEY June 17, 1930. Y L. H. DUERR y1,764,436

y `TANK VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM y l Fil'ed Sept. 18, 1928 -5 Sheets'-Sheet 5 l 37 I I l A Z T x/f2@ Julie 17, 1930. L H, 'DUERR 1,764,436

TANK VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18, 1928 5 ISheets--Shee 4 15 INVENT R ATTORNEY i,

June 17, 41930. L H, DUERR 1,764,436

TANK4 VALVE CONTROL M ECHANISM Filed Sept. 18, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 I 1. 55 59 wie.

. YAJNVE. EL

' ATTORNEY 4LEONARD HOWARD DUEILB., or CINCINNATI, orrio, AssisfNoza fro AIIGUsfIINE DAVIS; IR.; y

fio

, '.desiredivalve is opened.

25 compartment y' `PatenteclJune 17,' 1930 on -CINCINNACILv oiIIo I f TANK-VALvn-coNTRoL,.IvIEerIANIsNI. 'Aiipuc'atioiiaiea seiirberi'ltz@ fsrillills-.3963133. i' i `lThe object of the invention is to provide ka simple,y durable, reliable and conveniently .operable mechanism "for operating a Vpliirality of valves in a desired manner. v The i* A invention isfparticularlyapplicable to the e control of normally 'closed valves commanding 'the outlets jor outlet passages of the com- `ment truck tank. An objectof the invention 'is tok provide an improved control mechanism z for operating any one of arplurality of. valves selectively. The mechanism involves the novel plan of a'common turnableV control rod orshaft, and devices associated with the V15 shaft and with the valveconnections'in such manner that by turning the shaft in one direction selection is effected', whereupon byturn' ing the shaft in the reverse direction the i y-Various other features ofthe invention vkwill become'apparent. y ln the accompanying part hereof: n

Fig-ure 1 is a side elevation ofa multiple truck tank embodying thek inaV large partv of the tank interybroken out and a drawings, forming ventioin l l 'mediate the ends being forward lower portion being vbroken away,l

ya Vparty of the wall ofthe controlgbox being 3o broken out to show Vparts wtliimthe door of this boX being open and ylargely brokenfaway, andy the valve control mechanism being shown in operated condition, with one lof 'f rthe'valves open;

` '`35l Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionall elevation Ona ialargerscale, showing the topl ofthe vtank vcompartment in section and parts related lto .one of the valve rods in'rear elevation, the

" parts being in positions corresponding to 'f f1f10` theclosed condition of that valve; e e 1 Fig. 3 is aplanview of Fig. 2,;

f y Fig; 4L is a section taken on the line lL-#4l Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken on the line 5-i-5 Y ,y 1 v Fig.'7 is asectional elevation, showing the p50 top 'of the control boi; in ,SGC'Gon and the .i known in whiclifa s or tanks are secure partments is normally pr vtank thevalves may/'begin parts in above b'oir elevation,

Fig. 8 is a sectional planview' of theparts, u

shown in 7,tliehorizontal'planegof the. section :being 'below the -'top'.joff the control F ig'. 9 is f aY view` partly'rin Sside. eleva*tiol` above the controlboX,"anginterniediate por- 'fib and partly in section ofthe parts inand tion ybeing'brokenjout as inf Fi'ggythe upper i part of the view being 'infcentralfvertical vk65 .f

section andy the lower part principally in elevation; f

Fig. 10 is acentral ,verticalsection'taken" at right angles to Fig. 9,- lookingfronrthe y rear of the tank;

Fig. 1l is ahorizontal 4section takenLon'the Fig. 1'2'i's a planv view offu'parts ward part of the 4control shaft;A

Fig. 13"'is a vertical crossfsectiontakenfon .y Y, ai i a portion vof theglongitudin i A and some ofthe selective controlf Figure l illustrates portions of afinultip'le compartmentl truck tank 2; ythe interiorof f which'is divided by ppartitionsy 3, the position of'one of which is 'indicatech'k intoseparate ankjbodies'fareff SQ compartments. lTril/ck rlfheremay be any nuifnber offcompartments or tank chambers,

, outlaw-efk iiqid from@@haasten com..

e The: Imation 4, one V*for each "-conipartni v n i Y Y of these valvesmay `be varied. In a graw bottom outlets,V from which. a; pipe :or j. pif

or other delivery valve' means. n n n U n y the" .siphons yMor' siphon branchespertaining comp artnients. T They yc perspective view of alf-Control@shaft in.V ai row' on rhonnting.

"s'ofjunitchambers if 'n Y `the'mechanismas;illiisfy j A' Vtrated beingdesignedfor ran.eight-:compartiv Vpreferably under'actionof springs 6. i The rear valve in Fig. 1 is open, andthe valve of VthecompartmentV next in front isclosed,

-this bracket may carry the stuiiing box. Y14V bell-crank lever 10 is pivoted at 1`1 on each of these brackets, an approximately' horizontal arm of the bell-crank being 1 operatively connected with theupper end of the valve rod, and the approximately vertical arm being operatively connected with a link 12, which link extends in a direction transverse of the tank. The other end of this link is operatively connected, preferably by a pivot 13, with an arm 14 on a member The members 15 are disposedat intervals along a horizontal control rod 16, which is turnable in opposite directions about its axis,

this rod or shaft extending longitudinally over the tops of the compartments, fore and aft of the vehicle. The members 15 pref erably encircle the shaft 16 and areV supported byV it, the shaft being capable of turning Within the members. The control shaft is mounted to turn in bearings in arms 17 projecting laterally from the brackets 9.

'The parts of the shaft 16 which are en- 4`circled by the membersr 15 are preferably larger in diameter than the shaft I itself. They might be integral parts of the shaft, as far as selective control is concerned, but it ismuch more advantageous to make them of separatepieces. Each of these parts is accordingly made as a disc 18 having a central hole by means of which it overV the shaft to be set rigidly thereon by a set-screw 19. Y

Y Each of the members 15 may consist of a hub, designated by the same numeral, the interior of which hub fits the periphery of y. the disc 18, so that these parts can turn relativelyfto each other, and apair of face plates 20, disposed at opposite sides of the disc f and detachably secured to the hubby screws feo Each disc 18 is formed at one region of its surface with an eccentrically located rece'ss ,22, the recess being peripheral surface. Eachof the members 1.5"is likewise formed with :an internal recess 23,'the two recesses being adapted to be brought into communication at a certain position of turning of the shaft 16. ArV pin, roller or other suitable element. 24 lies loosely in each recess 22, so `as to be carried `around by the disc 18. When the recess 22 comes into f communication with therrecess 23, the

spect to this direction of rotation.

can be passed preferably in the roller 24 drops into the recess 23, so that it is partly within this recess and partly within the recess of the disc 18, the recess 23 being of less depth than the diameter of the roller. t

The recesses are of such form that when the shaft 16 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the rollers 24 of the several devices will not form a connection between the parts 18 and 15 in re'- vIn these views one of the elements 24 is in to 'form a connection if the Lshaft is turned in a clockwise direction, but if the shaft is turned in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown, the roller will simply retreatrfrom the recess 23 into the recess 22 as the latter recessl moves downward. If the disc 18 is turned in the clockwise direction from'the the roller 24 will be caught between the surfaces and act as a connection, causing the member 15 to be turned by rand with the disc 18."l

Each one of the devices l comprising the parts which have just been described may be considered as. a one-way-acting clutch. While this form of device is highly desirable, I do not limit lmyself to the particular form or ltype of construction. vWhat is broadly contemplated is a. set of operative connections between the shaft 16 and the valves, or members related tothe valves, which connections are operative in respectto one direction of turning movementv of the common control shaft,and vare adapted to pass idly in the other direction of turningmovement. It is further necessary that each of these one-way-acting connections be capable of being brought into operative relation at AAone point only in a revolution, or partial revolution, of the shaft. f i

Selectivity` is obtained by'setting elements of the several devices in different angular relation to the axis of rotation'.

rEhus, in the particular construction'illustrated the discs 1S Vaie fixed to the shaft 16 by ythe 'screws 19 inI such positions thatthe recesses 22 of the several discs arel all out of Vline with each other, whereas the recesses 23 of the members 15 rare all normally in line with each other. lor example, in the case of an eight-compartment tank, the recessed portions of the Vseveral discs 18 are at 45 positions about the axis wit-h respect to each other. t. v

However, by adopting a somewhat different form of one-way-acting connection, the elements on the shaft might be in longitudinal line with each other and the co-v operative elements on the members related position position of Figs. 2, 4 and 53 to the valves might be out'of line, in diifer'- ent angular positions about the axis, are'- versal which would give the same effect.

At the rear end of the tank there is usually abox 25, known as ajbucket-box, or as a con- 4trol box when it houses or has to do with ,controll mechanism.

, "The shaft A16-l extends rearward over lthe ,-'topof this box, andits rear end enters a Agear-,housing 26 which .is supported on the Y upper end of a';tub ef27this tube extending through anQ opening inthe top ofthe tank, Iwhere it is weldedror otherwise secured.

ly extending bearing extension 2 8 lying. '.,vwithin the tube.

yThe gear casing preferablyhas ay downward- A'bevel gear 29' has .ahubSO encircling fthe end portion@ of thefshaft16and free to turn in abearing: Slofthe gear' housing. f '1 The shaft has av feathered connection with "this gear -ifor i a reason which willl be exvplained further (on, the connection preferablyv Consisting of ak pin 32 fixed in a trans# 2verse hole in the Ashaft with its ends project-- l ging,4 and longitudinal slots 33 )in the v teriorof the hub, /l

' 7A vertical operating shaft'34passes downf Ward Vthrough, the bearing 28VV and through a bearing in a bracket 85 which is fixedto a ,i shaft36 inside the, control box.v v

Abevel gear` 3'? on the upper end of this y 'g shaft meshes with thebevel gear 29. 0n or connected with the lowerrportion ofthe same shaftjis a, selecting handle, preferablyin the formV of a horizontal hand wheel 88 pinned to the lower end of the shaft.

, f; "An operatinglever, foreffecting the open` of a Valve orvalves,'is'marke`d.39.- This (lever is preferably a hand lever, mounted to 5 swingabout the axis of theshaft 34. In the 'f preferred construction-it has a hub portion `40y containing a largeopening, the bounding which the hub is kconnected by` pivot pins (A part connected with the shaft 34, inths d instance the wheel 38,'is yadapted to belen-- Y gag'ed and operated by the lever, or by a partf operated thereby, whatever the position to" which the-shaft. may havev been turned in )the selecting operation." The precise-arrangementmay be considerably varied. {As

illustrated, the'centralQpart of the wheel has f acircularly arrangedl` series of recesses or'` teeth 43and a tail-44 .onthe operatinglever "has a downward projection '45 adapted to .en-'

gagerany oneof'the recesses ywhen-the body of thehandle is tilted upward. The weight'. Aof the, handle is such that the projection 45 is normally clear ofthe'recesses.

Inorder to open a selected vValve theihan-V d dlcif39 is -swungabout the axlisof the shaft 34 guntilthe tail .44.catches behind the shoulwhich isjpivoted atl j48V0n- 'bracket' `The pressure of the'valve spring transmitted c Y through the mechanism will hold thetail of s j l;

the lever against the 'shoulder with suiiicient friction toA prevent lthe ylever `tiltingfout; of` l`'engagement with the latch,in`" additionlt'ofV l Qwhich the' contacting surfaces may ybefin-v cli-nedl asflshown.

Y Ithas beenknownto' the operat-ffif y 'd i,

ing lever of tanlnvalve f control "mechanisms in suclra waythat whenna val've 'orjvalVes and the same arrangement is yillustrated, in thepresent mechanism.' n .l c f are openrthe-lever interfereswith thejclosingy s y of the doorr49 .of the ,boznas` shown foreX-A u j `amplethe Davisand BettslPatentj1,562,300, y ,u so i j It has been Vwell known toprovide a f bleor thermal release. f'or releasingjthev mechanism -to cause thefvalvejorrvalves to y.closefin event of fire., fA fusiblerelease de- 1,467,717 Vis shown mountedon the ebifacket 35 in position toact on thelatch-,47l

` A iiuid'check 51 fsuchjas' shownfinfthe j Betts Patent `=1,t' 52,03015may.` be connected .c i851 AVice 50: like. thatfof theeEmmivch-Patent j It is alsowell known, .asshowni v d.

Betts ,-Patent 1,552,030r 'and the Fuller and `Betts Patent, 1,566,472; tof? provide' a; so

called' cab-release,l thatf isffto say lmeans 9.5 operable at the forward end ofthe tajnk for releasing lthe valve mechanism, if it should become necessary; Y

,The cab-release employedin connectionfl with the present i mechanism f is generally similar. to that of Vthe Fuller and`^Betts a spring 54'interposed betweenthis bearing andV a` collar 551 on 'thegfront .end foff'the shaft `keeps the shaft from"movingflongil d d tudinally under yordinary:conditionstv A bell-crank 56 -pivotedfat{575on3this bracket ,d V110Y and another collar 59011 the shaftL-fV A rod" has a fork 58v interposed betweenlthebracket 60 lor other Vsuitable connection is connected withfthe 'bell-'crankandfprovidedwith' fa handle 61, enabling the lsh'afftfto:be' shiftildk-lil il spring. 54. "ThisV movementy will ,carrythe Y I* rearward slightly against the ltensionfof the patent, but exhibits"certain{differencesl f Y V,The forward part of fthe `'shaft 16 passes vl f throu'gha bearing 52` ona lbracketfi and pinn32izn the rear end iof'the shaft outof A* engagement with-the groves 32`r in jtheihub l of the gear 30,I 'disconnecting the `c o'nnecs` tion at thisregion andjpermittingthelopen .1go f u valve or valves to fclose, Y

The two grooveslarejmadel'of depth, Y and thefprojecting' ends, of the ?pin" 82 are of unequal length,` so that theicon'l` e nection vrcan be' reconnected"v -f-inwonlyf'o'ne s s positionwith respect to reli tive turningbec Atween the shaftfandfthegear.: 1: Y'

To. operate `the mechanisms-fasaiselectivev' y' control, the wheel 38' 1s turned one direc# tion to the fposition :which will bring the rollers 24 into position to act as an operating connection between the shaft 16 and the valve of-the desired compartment. In this operationnone of the valves are actuated. TheY rim of the wheel. may be provided with numerals to assist the operator in tnrning it-to the proper position. Then the operator grasps the handle of the lever 39, tilts it upward a little so as to cause the projection 45 to engage one of the recesses 43 in the wheel, and pulls the handle outwardly from the box until the tail ofr vthe lever is caught and held by the latch 47. This turns the shafts 34 and 16 in the reverse direction, and through the parts 18, 24 and 15 which were brought into opera- -tive relation, opens the selected valve.

It will be apparent that the form of the mechanism and its parts maybe varied to a considerable extent Y without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims. Y

lllhat is claimed as new is: c

1. A valve mechanism for controlling a plurality of valves, comprising a v'common control shaft turnable in opposite directions, Ymanual means for operating said shaft, members related to the several valves,

Aand instrumentalities on said shaft adapted by turning movement ofthe shaft in 'one direction to be placed in operative relation to said members and then by turning movement in the reverse direction tooperateV the member or members selectively.

v2. A valve mechanism for controlling .a plurality of valves, comprising a common controlpshaft turnable in opposite direction, members related to the several valves, and instrlnnentalities on said shaft adapted by turning movement of the shaft in one direction to be-placed one at a time inoperative relation to the corresponding" one of said -members, whereupon turning of the shaft in the reverse direction causes-the particular instrumentality to operate its corresponding member..

A valve mechanism-for controllingA a.

plurality of valves, comprising a common control shaft turnable in opposite directions, members related tothe several valves, and devices between said shaft and said members o f such nature that by turning the shaft in one direction the valves 'can be selected for operation, whereupon turning of the shaft in the opposite direction will open the selected valve. i r i 4. A valve mechanism for controlling a plurality of valves, comprising a common control shaftturnable inopposite directions leo and having recessed parts at intervals along its length, turnable recessed members associated with said parts and related to -said members, and one-wayfacting clutchv ele-V ments in one set of recesses adapted to enter the other set of recesses, the-members of one set of recesses being in different positions about the aXis.

5. A valve mechanism for controlling a plurality of valves, comprising members re- Y lated to the several valves,a common control shaft turnable in opposite directions, and automatic clutch devices between said shaft and said members of such nature that'by turning of theshaft in one direction any of said Vmembers may be selected for operation, whereupon turning of the shaft in the opposite direction causes the operation of a selected member. Y

6. A valve mechanism forfcontrolling a plurality of valves, comprising a common Vcontrol shaft turnable in opposite directions,

manual means for operating said-shaft members encircling said shaft and related to the several members, and automatic clutch devices' between said shaft and said members of such nature that by turning of the shaft in one direction any of said members may be "selected for operation, said( clutch devices beingone-way acting and adaptedV to be brought into Yoperative relation at different positions of turning so that turning Vof the shaftl in the opposite direction will cause the` ope-ration of a selected member.

7. A valve mechanism for controlling a plurality of valves, lcomprising a Ycommon control shaft turnable in opposite directions, members related to the several valves, devices between sa'id shaft and said members .of such vnature that by turning the shaft in one direction the valves can be selected for operationv by reverse turning movement, mechanismV connected with said shaft for turning the same, means co-operative with a part of said mechanism for holding said. shaft in position with a valve or valves open, and means operable from a distant point for disconnecting said shaft from said mechanism.

"8. A valve mechanism `for controlling a plurality of valves, comprising a common control shaft turnable in opposite directions, members related to the several valves, devices between said shaft and said members of 'such nature that by turning the shaft iny one direction the valves can be selected for operation Y by reverse turning movement,

Vmechanism .connected with said shaft for fof such nature that by turning :the shaft .fin one direction the valves can be selectedfor operation by lreverse turning movement, mechanism connected with said shaftfor 5,'turningthe same, means co-operative with a part of said mechanism for holding said Y shaft in position with a valve orvalves open,

y means related to another part of said shaft l`- ,for moving the same endwise, and a cone, k10 nectiongbetween said shaft and said mechy anisni adapted to be disconnected by said I 4endwise movement, said connection. being ',capable 'of' being re-connected in 'only one relative position. l Y Y L k15 l0,V A valve mechanism for controlling ai p plurality of valves, comprising a common control shaft turnable in opposite directions, members related to Athe several valves, de-

vices between saidy shaftandy said members `v 2`01'0'f such nature that by'turning the shaft in *n one direction the valves can be selected for operation by reverse* turning movement, i

" an operating shaft at anangle to said control shaft, gearing between said shafts, r25 means for turning said operating shaft for selection, a lever free in relation to said i y l operating shaft, and means whereby said L lever can be operatively connected with said t operating shaft..v Y 3()`V`-V 11. A valve mechanism for controlling a plurality 'of valves, comprisinga commony l'control shaft turnableinopposite directions, members related tothe several valves, de-

- vices between said vshaft and said members i 3K5, of such nature that by Aturningk the shaftk yin one direction the valves can be selected for operation by reverse turning movement,V an operating shaft 'at an angle to said con-Y v gf' trol shaft, gearing `between said shafts, a

40 leverl free inrelation to said operating shaft,

n' means whereby saidV lever can Vbe operatively connected with said operatingshaft, means vfor holding said operating shaft in position with a valve open, a connection between said n 145 Acontrol shaftand said gearing, and means for4 disconnecting said connection by movef, `ment of the control shaft effected ata disl i y .ftant point.

. 12. In a truck tank comprising a plurality f t' 5`01of chambers, valves pertaining'to the several chambers,operating connections to thel e i severalvalves, a common controly shaft turnlable in opposite directions,and devicesA between said shaft and said valve connections l 55-of such nature that by turning the v.rod in one `direction a valve can .be selected for 1 Y operation by reverse turning movement.k

LEONARD HOWARD DUERR.V 

